Clasp



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BY fl INVENTORI. M

ATTORNEYS.

Febu l9,

0. MYRBERG CLASP Filed Jan. 31, 1927 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVEN O. MYRBERG, OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO PROVIDENCE STOCK COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE CLASP.

Application filed January 31, 1927. Serial No. 164,891.

This invention relates to a clasp for joining the separable ends of a bracelet; and has for its object to provide a member mounted to be moved into a position to lock the clasp against a separating movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking member for the clasp having a tongue on one end of the bracelet to extend into a recess in the opposite end of the bracelet and be secured therein, the locking member being slidably mounted adjacent the tongue to be moved to prevent a depression thereof for disengaging the recessed end of the bracelet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a guide on the recessed end of the bracelet for directing the tongue into the recess to secure the ends of the bracelet together.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of several links of a flexible bracelet showing two end links joined by a clasp with which the improved locking member is associated.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top portion of the end link of the bracelet.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the end link of the bracelet with the tongue member formed as an extension of the bottom wall.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the looking member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fingerpiece for the locking member.

Figure 6 is a central sectional view showing the tongue and link of the bracelet in assembled position with a locking member mounted therein and in retracted, unlocked position.

Figure Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the top of the link at the recessed end of the bracelet.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the bottom of the link shown in Figure 8, with the guide lip formed by extending its bottom wall.

Figure 10 is a central sectional view of the link at the recessed end of the bracelet in assembled position.

Figure 11 is a central sectional view of both 7 is a sectional view on line 7 7 of end links of the bracelet in their clasped position with the locking member in position to prevent detachment thereof.

It is found in practice desirable to provide a clasp for attaching the separable ends of a bracelet together and to lock the clasp against inadvertent or accidental detachment which result is especially desirable in a bracelet having a so-called center catch between the hook ends of a watch bracelet to safeguard the more expensive watch carried thereby, and in order to provide a neat and effective lock for this purpose, I have slidably mounted a bolt member to be moved into position to prevent a depression of a resilient portion of the tongue for releasing the catch to separate the ends of a bracelet and in order that the tongue may be readily positioned in the recess in the opposite. end of the bracelet for securing the ends together, I have provided a guide lip on the recessed end to direct the tongue into the recess and at the same time so form this guide member that it engages the outer bottom surface of the tongue end of the bracelet to prevent an undue inward flexing of the parts about the joint which may cause injury to the detent or locking means carried by the tongue; andthe following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of the invention showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished \Vith reference to the drawings, 10 designates a plurality of links flexibly connected together with separable end links 11 and 12 in which suitable clasping means are mounted for releasably attaching the same together. The end 12 which I have termed the tongue end of the bracelet is in the form of a boxshaped link having a top portion 13 and a bottom portion 14, the latter being extended to provide a tongue 15 which is folded back upon itself to form a. resilient part 16 to be compressed upon inserting the tongue into the opposite end of the bracelet. The end 11 which I have termed the socket or recessed end of the bracelet is in the form of abox link having a top part 17 and a bottom part 18 with a rigid extending guide lip 19 to di root the tongue carried by the end 12 through the opening 20 in the end wall of the link 11. In so positioning the tongue the part 16 is compressed and the raised detent 21 carried thereby snaps over and engages the edge 22 of the recessed end link 11, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 11, to attach the ends of the .bracelet. A finger piece 23 is formed on the end of the resilient portion 16 by suitably folding the stock, the edge 24- of which projects through the slot 25 in the top wall of the end link to make a more finished construction and to prevent the edge from catching in the garment of the wearer.

In order to lock the tongue against being depressed by the finger-piece 23, I have slidably mounted a member 26, shown in Figure 4, in the tongue end link 12- and provided an operating finger-piece 27 having prongs 38 extending through and guided in the slots 29 in the top wall of the portion 13 by which this sliding member may act as a bolt to be moved into the space 30 between the tongue portions 15 and 16, as is shown in Figure 11, to prevent depression of the port-ion 16 to withdraw the detent 21 from its engagement with the edge 22 of the socket end of the bracelet.

The end 31 of the guide lip 19 is so positioned that it engages the bottom 14- of the tongue end of the bracelet to prevent an inward flexing between the links 11 and 12 at their joint to rupture or injure the tongue portion or detent carried thereby. he guide lip also serves as a support for the finger in depressing the finger piece 23 and lifting the engaging edge 22 for disengagement of the link.

It will be readily understood that the top and bottom portions of the end link are secured together by bending the walls 32 and 33 thereof beneath the bottom of these links, as is illustrated in Figure 7, to secure them in position to form a box-shaped link conforming in shape to the remainder of the links of the bracelet.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a clasp for the separable ends of a bracelet, necklace or other flexible encircling member which may be easily positioned by means of a guide lip on the socket end of the bracelet and may be secured in locked position by means of a sliding bolt to prevent movement of the tongue to disengaging position, which simple in construction and positive in its operation there being suflicient friction between the bolt and the link in which it is mounted to retain the same in the position to which it is manually moved.

The term bracelet is used in its broadest sense to include a necklace or any other encircling device.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp for the separable ends of a bracelet, comprising a resilient tongue on one end of the bracelet formed of a portion folded back upon itself to extend into the opposite end of the bracelet and engage a portion thereof to prevent separation of the ends, a linger-piece integral with the foldedback resilient portion and bowed upwardly with its iree end extending downward and positioned to be manually engaged and depressed to release the tongue from securing position, the bracelet part from which the tongue ext-ends having a slot to receive said free end of the finger piece.

A clasp for the separable ends of a bracelet, comprising a tongue on one end of the bracelet having a resilient portion, the other end of the bracelet having a recess to receive said tongue to secure the ends in position, means for depressing said tongue, said ton ue end of the bracelet having a slot therein, and a finger-piece slidably mounted on the tongue end of the bracelet and extending through and guided in said slot and a member fixed to and wholly carried by said linger piece to engage and lock the tongue against releasing movement.

3. A clasp for the end of a bracelet, comprising a tongue on one end of the bracelet,

having a recess the other end of the bracelet to receive said tongue, formations between said tongue and recess to retain the same therein, and a rigid lip extending from the recess end of the bracelet to guide said tongue into said recess.

l. A clasp for the end of a bracelet, comprising a tongue on one end of the bracelet, the other end of the bracelet having a recess to receive said tongue, formations between said tongue and recess to retain the same therein. and a lip extending from the recess end of the bracelet and functionally rigid therewith to guide said tongue into said rccess, the end of said lip being so formed as to engage the under side of the tongue end of the bracelet and prevent an inward bending movement of the ends to injure the clasp.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

SVEN O. MYRBERG. 

